She offered thanks to five individuals who spoke in support of our candidacy: School Committee Chairman Michael Araujo, businessman and philanthropist Paul Audette, vice president of Cape Verdean American Community Development Lisette Gomes, longtime community leader Patricia Martinez, and business leader Jevon Chan.

Cano said in her speech that she loves Pawtucket, a city that welcomed her family when they first came to the United States.

This is "the city that taught me if you work hard and set your mind to something, the sky is the limit," she said.

Cano, who will challenge three incumbent men to win one of three at-large seats, said she decided to announce at the Slater Mill because it was mills like this one where thousands of immigrants like her worked to earn a living.

"Times have changed. Many of those manufacturing jobs have moved overseas," she said. "And many of the dreams of our hard-working residents and students have been put on hold.

"But we don't have to stand by and feel sorry for ourselves," she said. "We don't have to be satisfied with remembering the way things were before."

The Shea High School graduate quoted Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Cano said she's witnessed the city's difficulties firsthand as a freshman member of the Pawtucket School Committee. As an official with Navigant Credit Union, she's seen "the struggles of our small businesses."

"We've started to turn things around, but not fast enough," she said.

Cano said she wants to bring people together "to work to make our city the very best it can be," to "be at the forefront of the dynamic changes we need to keep our city great."

Political and personal agendas need to be set aside, said Cano, replaced with one agenda to make Pawtucket a better place.